Garden chores. Too late, too late
I have often said that I am a writer who gardens, not a garden writer. And anyone who takes advice from me does so at their own peril.
I do my best to combine pretty pictures, the latest gardening news and the advice of other, more expert, gardeners. But I am not sure I would take my advice about anything but what to order off a wine list.
What makes matters worse is that I don't take the advice I give.
I admit it. I should have cut back my perennials in May and June, and I didn't.
I was greedy for their growth. I couldn't bring myself to hack away at the emerging monardia, Echinecea and helianthus. I couldn't bring myself to cut back the Shasta daisies, the roses, the Russian sage, the new coreopsis that I planted last year.
I congratulated myself on cutting back the Joe-pye weed, but even that was only a little of what I should have done.
The result is rangy and overgrown stuff all over the garden. All of it is blooming or ready to bloom, and now is not the time to cut it back.
My garden would have been so much more orderly and contained if I had been tough in May.
Now, all I can do is cut back the sedum "Autumn Joy" and hope for the best.
I have a gardening journal that I keep in one of those marbled composition notebooks, and I will make a note of my mistakes.
And hope I remember this lesson next year.
Comments
"Anyone who takes advice from me does so at their own peril." the story of my life....lol.
Posted by: NotableM | July 6, 2010 7:57 AM
I think I learn as much (if not more) from reading about people's mistakes as their successes, particularly if they are written with such style and humor.
Kerry, you are too kind! --- Susan
Posted by: Kerry | July 6, 2010 9:49 AM
I look at it as material for big bouquets of flowers.
Ah, my glass-half-full friend! --Susan
Posted by: Lazy Gardens | July 6, 2010 9:52 AM
My sedum lies right under the squirrels' overhead wire path - Scout's route across the back of the yard - so I'll be lucky to see any Autumn Joy at all this year.
Posted by: Eve | July 6, 2010 10:12 AM
I've been busy cutting back, but it would have been better if I'd done it all before this monster heat wave. I'm still tackling my Tradescantia (maybe you know it as spiderwort). If yours is flopping over, try cutting it back by half (at least take off the top third) and you will be rewarded by another round of blooms in a few weeks. Amazing, but true!
Really? I've never cut my spiderwort back and never had a rebloom. I am giving this a shot. Might have to do it after dark to escape this heat! -- Susan
Posted by: Dahlink | July 6, 2010 3:22 PM